Magica Riot by Kara Buchanan, an explosion of trans positivity and punk-infused delight

If you ever thought Jem and the Holograms would have been better if it was more like Sailor Moon, or maybe if you thought Sailor Moon would be improved by the scouts forming a band, you’re predisposed to like Kara Buchanan’s setup for her debut novel, Magica Riot. And if you ever thought either of those properties would have benefited from being more open about their LGBTQ+ elements, you’re in serious luck.
The tagline for Magica Riot goes thusly:
Claire always wanted to be a girl.
She never dreamed she’d be a magical girl.*
As this promises, the novel gives us two transitions, both of which are delivered early. One, Claire officially embraces being a trans woman. And in a less common experience, she gains the ability to transform into a magical girl in order to protect Portland from the forces of evil. Oh, and she joins a punk band. Lots of life changes for Claire in the opening.
Saturday Morning Cartoons level of FUN!
While a novel that leads with the MC coming out as trans could easily be a dramatic examination of learning to be yourself in a culture that’s likely to try to break you for it, Magica Riot avoids discussion of the more difficult aspects of transitioning in favor of providing simple, kickass empowerment. This is entirely by design; the author is trans and fully aware real life is never as easy as this. Claire’s experience is pretty much exactly what I wish the typical trans person went through rather than the ordeals so many actually face. Coming out to her best friend does result in gobsmacked disbelief, but that’s over the, “I joined a punk band,” part of the declaration, not the bit about, “I’m a woman and this is my new name.”
The members of Magica Riot have the common magical-transformation aspects of color coding and they-all-have-one-defining-difference going on. Claire becomes Riot Purple, keyboard player! This role comes with a special new keyboard to smash her enemies, both physically and with music-infused magic attacks. The other members are like this as well: one color and one instrument per magical girl. They’re all more complex than the format requires, however, and stand out from each other better than I expected out of the first book of a series while still having plenty of room to grow and become more detailed in later entries.
In addition to trans characters, this book features openly lesbian and pansexual characters. And…
Surprise PolyamorOUS REP!
It always makes me happy to see a positive portrayal of polyamory pop up without warning. In this case, it was courtesy of lead guitarist Cass casually tossing out, “I’m in a polycule with two girls and a guy, and I was sure none of them would go for me.” What??? You’re the bomb, Cass! They’d have to not be into women to not go for you, and they clearly are. But, yay for working that in there without it being any big deal.
Servants of the darkness, be silenced by the song of Magica Riot!
The author has said she’d love to see Magica Riot as an anime, and I am completely with her on that. I’d go so far as to say my biggest regret reading the book is that this isn’t a format that allows me to hear the band perform. Although some of that can be addressed by listening to the author’s band. Because, yes, this isn’t just own-voices trans; it’s also own-voices punk rocker! They’re called The Crystal Furs and remind me of Blondie, or, yes, a female version of the Psychedelic Furs.
In conclusion
Read this book if you…
- Want to have fun.
- Like seeing people find happiness.
- Believe in accepting yourself and others.
- Appreciate kickass girls in cute clothes.
- Enjoy stories where good triumphs over evil.
- Wish to support independent LGBTQ+ fiction.
Find it here!
If you’re on the fence, the first two chapters are available for free, and you can find more information about the book and where to buy it on its official website, https://magicariot.com
* Although one could easily argue ALL trans women are magic, most do not develop literal superpowers or experience showy transformation sequences while changing clothes. More’s the pity.